Head of Operations — illooms Northwich, Cheshire | Office-based | Near J19, M6
illooms makes the world’s first LED glowing balloons — sold in Walmart, Target, Tesco, Pepco and major retailers across 90+ countries worldwide. We started on Dragon’s Den, we own our own factory in the Far East, and we are on a genuine growth trajectory that shows no signs of slowing down.
We are a family business. That is not marketing language — it is how we actually operate. We care about the people we work with, we move quickly, we laugh a lot, and we hold ourselves to a standard that is less about corporate policy and more about being kind, being accountable and getting things done properly.
The role We are looking for a senior Head of Operations to join the team and take full ownership of our supply chain from factory floor to customer door. This is the operational backbone of the business. You will manage our logistics and Quality & Compliance team, work closely with our factory management team in China, own our sourcing function and chair the weekly operations meeting. Everything from demand planning and MRP through to inbound freight, warehouse management and customer delivery sits with you.
We need someone who is experienced, self-sufficient and ready to make an impact from day one. This is a senior role with real responsibility and real autonomy — but also a team around you that will have your back.
A word on working hours: because we work closely with our factory team in China, this role works an 8am start. It gives you the daily overlap you need to keep production and logistics properly aligned — and it means your afternoons are genuinely productive rather than spent waiting for answers.
What you will own
Sourcing — identifying, onboarding and negotiating with suppliers and component vendors, working closely with the CEO on key decisions
Daily collaboration with our senior factory management team in China
Full inbound logistics — ex-works to DC across all routes and markets
Outbound logistics — DC to customer and FOB direct from factory to retailer
Factory demand planning and MRP
Factory status reporting — WIP, completion, risks and escalations
Weekly S&OP meeting — chairing, reporting and driving actions
3PL and warehouse performance
ERP and supply chain data accuracy
Leading and developing the Operations team
What we are looking for
Proven experience in a senior supply chain, operations or logistics leadership role
Experience managing international supply chains and Far East factory relationships
Experience leading S&OP or equivalent planning processes
Comfortable managing freight, warehousing and 3PL providers
Strong with ERP and supply chain systems
A clear, proactive communicator who flags issues early and solves problems quickly
A genuine team player — collaborative, accountable and commercially aware
Someone who thrives in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment where no two days are the same
Why illooms We are based just off the M6 near Northwich — easy to get to, with a team that genuinely enjoys coming in. We are a family company, not a corporate one. We do not have layers of bureaucracy or endless sign-off processes. We trust the people we bring on to do their jobs, and we support them to do it well.
We own our factory. We distribute globally. We are growing fast and we are building the team to grow with us. For the right person, this is a role with real scope — not just to do a great job, but to shape how the operational side of the business evolves as we scale.
We work hard. We have fun. We look after each other. And we are genuinely proud of what we are building.
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